4:27,28
Preaching is necessary, but we should also recognise the limit of our part. Once the seed is sown, the farmer does not know how the seed grows, in fact there is no need for him to know how it grows. Moreover, the seed germinates and grows all by itself. Now again, we must not take things too far, 1 Cor 3:7,8 talks about the one who waters. But the point here is that when we sow the word there are things that happen that we are unaware of. We do not fully understand everything and do not need to. If we think everything is up to us then this will lead us into error. A preacher or evangelist may try to use emotion or clever tricks to seek to manipulate the hearers. If a church starts to be very “successful”, then others may start thinking that the method or organisational structure is the reason for the success, and think that if they follow the same method they too will be successful. It is the word of God and the Holy Spirit that bring success. Thinking a method or structure will bring success is a form of idolatry.
4:29
There is a point where the farmer comes actively back into the frame. When the corn is ripe the farmer “puts the sickle to it”. So we are involved in God’s work, He wants us to bear witness to Christ and to preach and live the gospel, and He wants us to reap the harvest at the right time. But there are things that God does without us being fully aware of it.
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